Could Luka Doncic Return To Dallas?
Could Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic return to Dallas? Depending on one’s views surrounding Doncic, the potential answer could allude to both the past and present. The Slovenian big man admitted in a May 2025 interview with Caleb Pressley on the Sunday Conversation podcast that he didn’t plan to move back to Dallas or Texas after his NBA career, which began in 2018 following a three-year tenure with Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain.
Could Luka Doncic Return To Dallas?
Without a doubt, Doncic could return to Dallas, as nothing is set in stone. Los Angeles Lakers CEO and minority owner Jeanie Buss recently spoke to Russian tennis legend Maria Sharapova on the Pretty Tough podcast. Buss shared that Doncic was heartbroken after the three-team trade in Feb. 2025.
Buss told Sharapova, “︀︀In my experience, welcoming a player to the Lakers organization, I often hear, ‘This is my dream. I’ve always wanted to be a Laker. To play in the same place where Magic [Johnson] did, and Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal], and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar].’ Luka didn’t come into the Lakers like that. He was trying to figure out why this is happening.”
Buss continued, “You could see he left his heart in Dallas, and it was going to take him time to process. It’s kind of like if your boyfriend breaks up with you, it’s okay to go out and get a new dress and try to make him regret he ever did that.”
Buss’ statement of Doncic leaving his heart in Dallas can be interpreted in multiple ways, but just because one left their heart in a city, like, say, San Francisco, doesn’t always lead to a return in the near future.
Mavs fans might hold onto hope that Doncic would return to Dallas. Perhaps in 2028, when he can opt out of his three-year, $165 million maximum contract. However, a large amount of forgiveness from both him and Mavs Governor Patrick Dumont would be required for any chance of a remedy.
Unlike Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on LeBron James, Dumont didn’t write a letter to fans saying that the Mavs would win an NBA championship before Doncic would win one himself. Dumont’s alleged regret about the trade with then-Mavs GM Nico Harrison might not make up for his previous critical comments on Doncic’s fitness and work ethic.
Doncic’s Future In Los Angeles
His future in Los Angeles can be described as a fresh start. His reported role in the Lakers’ roster-building, commitment to the Lakers, and purchase of a $25 million house in Manhattan Beach all factor into a positive picture.
He eliminated the NBA world’s speculation about his short and long-term future. He reportedly pushed the Lakers’ front office to bolster the frontcourt depth and defensive toughness with the acquisitions of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.
Doncic’s Outlook
His outlook in Los Angeles has been bright but depends on his recovery from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain since April 2. He was sidelined for the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season and remains out of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Despite working on a potential return to the NBA Playoffs, a slow rehab, a high-stakes Playoffs environment, and a need to avoid re-injury signal uncertainty for Doncic. Doncic’s currently being evaluated on a week-to-week basis, with a new target date of May 7.
